Detective Nicole Usher is desperate. A serial killer is stalking women and has killed over a dozen. These women are special to the killer but Nicole aDetective Nicole Usher is desperate. A serial killer is stalking women and has killed over a dozen. These women are special to the killer but Nicole and the rest of her department cannot determine why and have no way of stopping the killings. The killer likes brunettes. Plain, shy and unassuming brunettes are stalked then mutilated for a trophy the killer covets.No one can know the mind of a killer, unless you are a genius profiler with a talent for doing just that. Nicole knows that Kent Harbinger can help catch the killer and despite a tragic history she shares with him, she calls him to help.Kent Harbinger seems as twisted as the killers he catches and although he is ranked as one of the top FBI profilers, his unconventional techniques have rewarded him a long-term stay at an asylum. His presence in the investigation creates pain for Nicole and resentment in Nicole’s partner and lover but despite this she knows there is no other way.Kent is the key character in this story despite the fact that Nicole is written in as the protagonist. His method of hunting the same victims as the killer helps him to guess the next target but he seems as mad as the killer. Stealing whatever he needs, breaking into buildings and stalking women are only some of the acts Kent commits during the investigation and Nicole is left to answer for him to her captain and partner. Kent seems to have no conscious and treats Nicole with apathy to the point that the reader cannot fathom a previous romantic relationship between the two.I hated him and wavered on whether to give this story a three of four star rating. The author pushes the envelope on what the reader will accept in a main character who is supposedly on the side of good and I struggled with this. Then I remembered something important. The best thing an author has ever done for me as a reader was to make me feel. To create emotion, good or bad, as I immerse myself in their creation. I was immersed in Plain Jane. I wanted the characters to do MY will and when they didn’t the author forced me to understand why. What does it take to get into the mind of a killer? What must you become if you want to catch what most don’t understand?Ms. West caught me off-guard and that doesn’t happen to me often.

If you enjoyed Silence of the Lambs or the work of Jeffrey Deaver, you will enjoy Plain Jane....more

Detective Nicole Usher is desperate. A serial killer is stalking women and has killed over a dozen. These women are special to the killer but Nicole aDetective Nicole Usher is desperate. A serial killer is stalking women and has killed over a dozen. These women are special to the killer but Nicole and the rest of her department cannot determine why and have no way of stopping the killings. The killer likes brunettes. Plain, shy and unassuming brunettes are stalked then mutilated for a trophy the killer covets.No one can know the mind of a killer, unless you are a genius profiler with a talent for doing just that. Nicole knows that Kent Harbinger can help catch the killer and despite a tragic history she shares with him, she calls him to help.Kent Harbinger seems as twisted as the killers he catches and although he is ranked as one of the top FBI profilers, his unconventional techniques have rewarded him a long-term stay at an asylum. His presence in the investigation creates pain for Nicole and resentment in Nicole's partner and lover but despite this she knows there is no other way.Kent is the key character in this story despite the fact that Nicole is written in as the protagonist. His method of hunting the same victims as the killer helps him to guess the next target but he seems as mad as the killer. Stealing whatever he needs, breaking into buildings and stalking women are only some of the acts Kent commits during the investigation and Nicole is left to answer for him to her captain and partner. Kent seems to have no conscious and treats Nicole with apathy to the point that the reader cannot fathom a previous romantic relationship between the two.I hated him and wavered on whether to give this story a three of four star rating. The author pushes the envelope on what the reader will accept in a main character who is supposedly on the side of good and I struggled with this. Then I remembered something important. The best thing an author has ever done for me as a reader was to make me feel. To create emotion, good or bad, as I immerse myself in their creation. I was immersed in Plain Jane. I wanted the characters to do MY will and when they didn't the author forced me to understand why. What does it take to get into the mind of a killer? What must you become if you want to catch what most don't understand?Ms. McCray caught me off-guard and that doesn't happen to me often.

If you enjoyed Silence of the Lambs or the work of Jeffrey Deaver, you will enjoy Plain Jane. ...more

The Boat by Christine Dougherty is definitely not your average zombie story, although it has zombies. It isn't your average Post-Apocalyptic story, yeThe Boat by Christine Dougherty is definitely not your average zombie story, although it has zombies. It isn't your average Post-Apocalyptic story, yet there is a plague that causes death and zombies, creating a Post-Apocalyptic environment. Which also makes a great setting for a Survivalist story, though not your......wait for it....average Survivalist story.See, Christine just doesn't do average, ever, and decided to write a fast-moving, horrific, nail-biting, zombie plague story of survival set two months after the aforementioned apocalyptic event. With a twist.A really bad twist.I am not surprised. I met Christine last year when she asked if I would review her novel The Devil Stood Up. As most of you know, I love me some good Horror and was thrilled to accept a copy for review. I eat Horror and Suspense for breakfast, one awesome reviewer on GoodReads, Stephen, http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..., asked me in a round about way, what kind of book would actually scare me. I really didn't have an answer, until Christine Dougherty. Turns out I couldn't finish The Devil Stood Up. It disturbed the hell out of me and I had to put it down. For the first time ever I had to write an author and humbly apologize for being a wimp and not finishing their book. The writing was excellent but you couldn't make me pick it up again.Instead of throwing rocks and laughing at me, Christine apologized and even asked for another review on her Urban Fantasy novel Born Lucky (The JD Chronicles). I loved it. I love the versatility Christine brings to the table. The Boat isn't overwhelmingly scary but it is very good and original and I urge lovers of Horror, Suspense and Urban Fantasy to check out this exciting author!

Book Summary:At the end of the world, the undead aren't the greatest threat to those who have survived.

A deadly plague brought on by an experimental AIDS drug called Lazarus sweeps the country. Lazarus, named so because it brings patients back from the brink of death, has the unfortunate side effect of bringing the dead back to life. A handful of survivors have made their way to water where the walking dead–called 'sinkers'–are less of a threat. These battered and traumatized survivors have colonized a super yacht (Flyboy), a tugboat (Big Daddy), and a weekender yacht (Barbra's Bay Breeze). As they wait for more survivors and organize a voyage south to a warm climate, they unintentionally bring aboard a monster who might be the end to them all....more

The first thing I noticed about Alison Wonderland was the contradictory reviews on Amazon.Now, I made sure not to read the actual reviews, a very badThe first thing I noticed about Alison Wonderland was the contradictory reviews on Amazon.Now, I made sure not to read the actual reviews, a very bad practice for reviewers in my opinion. (I am big on opinions, I know.) I did, however, notice the Star Ratings. Fours, twos, fives, threes... it was odd. Having corresponded through email with Helen Smith, I knew her to be articulate and very interesting so I was confused with the ratings I saw.

So I began to read. And read, read some more, remember I missed dinner, and read while I ate dinner. I was delighted! Helen Smith's writing style is enchanting in it's vibrant colors, neurotic characters and flamboyant plot-lines. It's like listening to that wonderful friend, the one who travels all over the world; wears bohemian mixed with designer clothing; has friends with yachts and still can't wait to regale you with her stories, talking non-stop into the night with bottles of wine piling up on your coffee table.

I can see where some would get confused if they tried to take the characters too literally and too seriously. Helen Smith is very clever in that she weaves many "Easter Eggs" into most aspects of the story. It's like falling into the rabbit hole and discovering brilliant people who aren't quit what you expect and scenes filled with double-entandre. I loved every minute of it.

Please do not misunderstand me, this is not a bizarro read in which nothing makes sense and you have to re-read every chapter to get it. In fact, it flowed for me and I became lost in the story. In fact, the story is very straight forward. (Smiles)

Alison Temple has hired an all woman investigative company. She wants to confirm that her husband is not cheating on her. She eventually becomes an investigator at that very office. Once she has become experienced her boss sets her on a very secret assignment and the adventure begins.

You will love her friend Taron who is just plain nuts and lovely. Her neighbor Jeff, who is madly in love with her, is an inventor of crazy but useful things. The relationships are refreshing and funny and believable.

This is a smart story. Fantastical and fun. A decadent read that I loved and strongly recommend to contemporary, urban fantasy, mystery and the curious! Just kick off your shoes, lay back and open your mind, then open the book.....

Here is the Summary from GoodReads but I warn you, it doesn't do it justice. When Alison joins Mrs Fitzgeralds Bureau of Investigation as a private detective, her new job takes her on a series of loosely linked adventures involving an abandoned baby, a transgenic animal and secret tunnels under The Thames. She travels from London to the seaside town of Weymouth and back again with her new best friend Taron, a girl with a hundred candle smile. But someone is betraying her. Is it Taron? Is it Jeff, the sweet-natured inventor who writes her poetry? Or are there darker forces at play? 'Only occasionally does a piece of fiction leap out and demand immediate cult status. Alison Wonderland is one.' The Times...more

Martin Pond's collection of short stories begins with Waiting Room. A young boy told he must face a coming-of-age test that all face yet no one talksMartin Pond's collection of short stories begins with Waiting Room. A young boy told he must face a coming-of-age test that all face yet no one talks about. No one in his school knows what this test is or why everyone has to take it but everyone knows how important it is. Martin Pond puts the reader in the waiting room with him. We sit next to him as he is ushered into a small room, all white, and waits for his test to begin. The musings of this boy combined with the dystopian atmosphere Pond creates very quickly put me in a state of suspense. I dreaded the outcome of this story but couldn't read it fast enough. Dream Feed, the second in the collection feeds on every parents worst nightmare. Throw in the creepy feeling of the paranormal and you wont use a baby monitor ever again. Each story that follows is just as compelling and I enjoyed every one. My attention was captured and I appreciated each twist and turn Martin Pond took me through. I have not had a story with so few words have so huge of an impact before. Every story felt full, well rounded and complete despite their length. Pond uses words more efficiently than anyone I have ever read. I did not feel cheated when the story ended so quickly.Each story puts its character into a dire situation and begs the question, what are you gonna do now?

Here is the summary:A teenage boy waits to take a sinister test he may or may not pass; a new father hears a strange voice on his daughter's baby monitor; a poisoner's best-laid plans go terribly astray; an enigmatic man gets as close to death as he can; a young boy wonders why Christmas just doesn't feel right this year; after the year from hell, a man is driven to extreme measures; a dying man reveals a black secret to his son; and, after four years in limbo, a man's life starts to unravel...

Martin Pond is brilliant and I cannot imagine a full length novel from him that would not blow my mind. I highly recommend Dark Steps to anyone who enjoys a twisted tale!...more

In previous works Christine has tackled Horror, Speculative Fiction, and Mystery. In Born Lucky, Urban FantasyChristine Dougherty was born to write.

In previous works Christine has tackled Horror, Speculative Fiction, and Mystery. In Born Lucky, Urban Fantasy and suspense . She does each one of these very, very well. Her writing easily pulls her reader in to the story she is weaving and compells us to continue to turn page after page until the story is told.

In Born Lucky the author introduces us to a unique and likeable character; JD.As a young boy, JD receives a gift and a curse in the form of psychic abilities.One form that manifests is the ability to hold a newspaper article and receive a vision of the events described in the article. This also poses a risk in that JD suffers physically some of what the subject of the article suffers. This can injure or kill him and it, as well as other abilities, causes him to retreat from society at a very young age.

His choice of refuge? A secluded mental hospital.Dora, an administrator in the hospital who understands why JD is really there just cant help slipping these articles to JD when she thinks he can help. This is how his adventures in Born Lucky begin.

Here is th book summary from the author: At three days old, JD was blown clear of the explosion that killed his mysterious parents and set him on a path of uneasy discovery. A reluctant psychic, JD chooses to live in the safe world of a mental institution, unable to control the things he ‘sees’…sometimes with unwelcome, and even dangerous, consequences.

Join JD as he tries to help find a young couple who go missing in the forbidding Pine Barrens of South Jersey.

I liked JD a lot. He is unsure of himself, afraid of the world outside of the institution and happy to stay safe and away from the outside. Cynical yet vulnerable, he starts off somewhat cowardly once he is pressured in to helping find two missing teens. You still like him but even better, you like how his character grows. By the end of Born Lucky, I loved JD and as a bonus found the secondary characters in the story just as likeable.

I truly hope Christine publishes another JD book soon. The combined elements of Suspense, horror, humor and realistic human emotion really hooked me. I foresee a successful, enjoyable series that will draw the attention of readers who enjoy many types of genres.

Prophet Shorn took me by surprise. When I started reading it, all I knew was it was a Horror novel. I didn't have access to the book summary at the tiProphet Shorn took me by surprise. When I started reading it, all I knew was it was a Horror novel. I didn't have access to the book summary at the time I began and decided to skip reading it. I looked back on the summary when I had finished Prophet Shorn and I still would have been shocked by the actual story.

Let me start by saying that the book is well written. I was pulled into the story from the start and had to finish it. I have to be honest, I didn't want to finish it. I saw where it was going and really wanted to put it down, but I could not.

Here is the book summary: Straddling the line between horror and paranormal thriller, Prophet Shorn details the last few days for a town started by a powerful and charismatic mayor and leader of his people. But the town has dark secrets and Edgar Shorn has even darker ones.

Jo Rondel and her daughter Candy arrive in town in a car that will go no farther. Jo is convinced this is where her hope of a better life has been leading her, but things which at first seem slightly strange quickly escalate into a terrifying trap that no one gets out of alive. Jo falls under the hypnotic spell of the mayor and Prophet, and Candy finds that her only hope lies in Elijah, the mild-mannered and seemingly Alzheimer's-bound librarian.

As the people fall victim, one by one, to their leader's depravities, Jo realizes she will never see the larger world again. Edgar Shorn's evil secrets force her into accepting her fate, but though her forgotten past finally catches up with her, she never stops trying to save her daughter. Candy is learning in just a few days what it means to grow up hard and fast.

The final showdown between Shorn and Elijah, protecting Candy, proves that good is stronger in this world, but there is a price to be paid. Candy's life is changed forever, and the future doesn't look bright for a four-year-old who didn't ask for any of this.

When Jo and her 4 year old daughter end up in Terra’s Hope you realize right away that something isn't right with the place. The mechanics checking out Jo's car seem nervous and clueless. The waitress at the empty diner can't make change and the cook doesn't know how to make a hamburger. It doesn't help that there aren't any hamburger patties, or any other food in the kitchen to begin with.Jo and Candy remain unaware of the problems the townspeople are having with ordinary tasks and Jo is becoming increasingly frustrated and angry, until Mayor Shorn shows up to welcome the towns visitors. Mayor Shorn is handsome and compelling. He radiates good will and competence as the towns protector. He expounds the virtues of an eco-friendly town to Jo and hints that this is the place she has been looking for to raise Candy.While resistant at first, Jo falls under the spell of Shorn in record time and when he invites her and Candy to the 'town meeting' later that evening, she accepts. The town meeting turns out to be a sort of worship service geared toward protecting the planet, at least that is what Prophet Shorn leads the town to believe. Maybe persuades is a better word because Shorn has powers and one of those powers allow him to see into the minds of people and to control them.

Candy doesn't like Prophet/Mayor Shorn. She can see his lips move but cannot hear anything he is saying and she is scared of him. Prophet Shorn doesn't like Candy either, he can’t see her mind but he dismisses her just like he dismisses the crazy librarian. The librarian isn’t who he seem either.

Things progress quickly. The town meets every night and eats dinner from the bounty Prophet Shorn provides. A lot of people seem to be getting sick but nothing is said. Shorn gains control of Jo's mind, convincing her she is in love with him and married to him. Then he eventually brutalizes her in every way possible.

The town librarian takes Candy under his wing and tells her she is very important and God will use her to fight the evil Shorn has brought in to the world. He teaches her the Bible and about God and how she must be strong.

My thoughts on the story are this; Candy is only four and it was very hard for me to swallow her role in the story. The scenes of brutality and evil are intense most especially compared to the scenes where the librarian talks about God’s love and deliverance. I have read Christian Fiction and even though I see no evidence that Prophet Shorn is a Christian Fiction novel, it was disturbingly close enough to make me feel uncomfortable when I read the dark scenes. These feelings are, of course, entirely my opinion only and I cannot discredit the book in any way but felt it important enough to put in a word of caution to those who may feel the way I do about the Christian faith portrayed in horror. Having said that, I must say that Thomas Kier exercised the upmost respect for the Christian faith and it’s basic beliefs.

All in all this Horror novel was entirely diabolical. It creeped me out and that is saying a lot. Horror fans will not be disappointed and may be a bit surprised to see exactly how far Prophet Shorn will go to torture mankind....more

I am so impressed with this novel. As far as I know, and I have checked, this is a debut novel from Glen Hendrix. I have to stress DEBUT before I procI am so impressed with this novel. As far as I know, and I have checked, this is a debut novel from Glen Hendrix. I have to stress DEBUT before I proceed with the review because it will start to sound as if I am reviewing a well established Science Fiction writer. There is a tendency for reviewers to give overly optimistic review ratings because it is so very hard to give a lukewarm one to a writer you have been corresponding with. I do not do this even though it is very stressful for me. I shudder when an author reads a review I have written but I have to be honest in my opinion.

Having said all of that....Glen Hendrix is STELLAR! Glen Hendrix is my new best friend! I am now the official Glen Hendrix fan club President whether he likes it or not! OK, OK, review time....

Transmat World opens in Jakarta, 2045 A.D. Daniel Fulbright, a businessman is wrapping things up and getting ready to leave his hotel room for the airport. The world has been made aware of an asteroid that will pass close to Earth but will not strike and since this has happened many times before it is basically ignored. Daniel sees the asteroid skipping across the sky then a blinding flash which immediately tells Daniel that this asteroid did not miss. What ensues is a very realistic and frightening race for Daniel and a few others he has rescued to get to a safe haven Daniel thinks will survive the devastation the impact will cause. You are completely immersed in this scene. Glen Hendrix understands the consequences of this type of disaster and he uses that knowledge to great success. I was left reeling. Much to my surprise, we are then taken into the future of Earth and it's recovery from the asteroid. More importantly, we are introduced to Vince Miller as a college student and his brilliant father who invents a teleportation technology called Transmat. This amazing technology can do wonderful things for all types of applications but it also results in the downfall of any transportation business as well as others and eventually a crash of the world market. Vince and especially his father become hated but Transmat technology is bigger than any hate and Vince goes on to lead the company to even higher success including his dream to use Transmat to explore space and eventually find sentient life there.

Then the author sends us back hundreds of thousands of years into the past and millions of light-years from Earth to another society which is somewhat more advanced than us but a more brutal society geared towards the hunt of lesser species on their planet. Among these people, the Kolpak, is a hunter who has become bored with his prey and commissions a robot to be made to challenge him. Through a series of events, this robot has unintentionally been given freewill and the intelligence of it's creator. It gives itself a name, Maxlux, and decides it's his duty to stop all higher life forms that kill those less than them. Then Maxlux builds a ship, a really big one and decides to travel the universe in search of more civilizations to stop and Earth is in his path.

In Transmat World, Glen Hendrix creates a civilization of robots that are human-like with their intelligence and emotions. You follow them and their struggle to free themselves from Maxlux and his mission. You also see the history of Earth evolve as the leader of the freed robots tries to prepare our civilization to combat Maxlux. It is fascinating and very personal. In spite of it's far reaching timeline this book draws you in to the lives of human and robot alike. I became completely invested in the characters. More importantly, there is a lot of hard science in this story but Glen Hendrix made it approachable and completely interesting.

There is no way I can do this book justice with my limited writing skills. I can not stress enough how epic this novel truly is. I can compare it to the likes of Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle with their brilliant books The Mote in God's Eye and Lucifer's Hammer which is the highest praise I can give.

Transmat World has been added to my all-time favorite books right alongside of those works of Niven and Pournelle. I cannot recommend this story enough.

Here is the book summary: Nine hundred thousand years ago in a galaxy right next door--the Greater Magellanic Cloud--an artificial intelligence is created to be a hunter’s prey. An accident produces a maniacal machine that destroys the civilization that created it and proclaims itself the Prime Mechanical and Supreme Arbiter of Known and Unknown Existence. With a space ship the size of the orbit of Mercury and an army of strikemechs, it prowls the Milky Way for sentient organics.

In the year 2045, the asteroid Isadora strikes off the west coast of Java, killing billions. Post-Hit Earth comes to realize the capricious nature of the cosmic weather forecast and begins to plan accordingly. Just when things are looking up, along comes Transmat (the first teleportation device) and the world's economy collapses. The inventor is assassinated, leaving his son, Vince, to deal with a planet that hates him and a fast-approaching Supreme Arbiter.

-IF you like heroes...-IF you like heroines...-IF you like Urban Fantasy with a bit of Horror and Mystery thrown in...

You have GOT to read Bad Radio b-IF you like heroes...-IF you like heroines...-IF you like Urban Fantasy with a bit of Horror and Mystery thrown in...

You have GOT to read Bad Radio by Michael Langlois, I mean it! Go now to your favorite book site and get it. Trust me.

OK, I'm calm. I'm gonna insert the book summary here so I can get an iced drink because this book is hot. 5 STARS hot!

Sixty years ago Abe Griffin saved the world and gained eternal youth.

Or so he thought.

Now, a man that Abe believed to be long dead is killing the surviving members of Abe's old squad in order to reclaim the relics that they have kept hidden for decades.

The relics form an ancient beacon that must never be used, in a ritual that must never be completed. But the end of the world requires more than just activating the beacon.

It requires Abe.

With help from the granddaughter of his oldest friend, Abe must learn the truth about his immortal body, while at the same time trying to stop a horrifying series of supernatural opponents from sweeping away everything that he cares about.

The open scene in this story begins on a farm. Abe Griffen is bucking bales of hay up into the loft and remembering his wife. He had lost her five years earlier and had been living a very secluded life in the country. Most of his friends are gone, or will soon be. After all, Abe and his friends are close to their eighties. They feel old, look old. They have married and had children and retired and rested. Well, except for Abe. He may have lived almost eighty years but he has the body of a thirty year old. He watched his wife age and die. Used tricks to hide his lack of aging until forced to retire to his farm. He is done.Having been the leader of a special unit during WWII, Abe has seen and experienced things most people will never ever see.So after neatly stacking his hay, closing up the house and taking care of the legistics, Abe sits down in a comfortable chair, content and at peace, and puts a gun under his chin. Someone forgot to tell Abe that heroes don't get the easy way out. Especially if their mission isn't over. Michael Langlois knows this and proceeds too tell us all about it and Abe's journey in Bad Radio.

What a fantastic and thrilling ride. From th knock on Abe's door by a compelling young woman to running for their lives and racing to save the world. Abe and the granddaughter of a fellow squad member and friend are faced with the inevitable decision to sacrifice their lives to save the world from a psychopathically mis-guided man in search of revenge.

I so loved this book I have recommended it to friends all over. I can not wait until Michael Langlois writes more for me to devour! I wonder if he takes bribes?...more

Book Summary: Convicted criminals are no longer sent to prison as a lost cause...they're offered rehabilitation into normal society. Inmates are allowBook Summary: Convicted criminals are no longer sent to prison as a lost cause...they're offered rehabilitation into normal society. Inmates are allowed to enter the mind of a civilian for a few days, to observe that person's life and understand how the thought processes of a normal, non-criminally inclined person work. Indira is a convicted bank robber, and has been in the program since its inception. She knows its limitations better than the researchers themselves. They think their experiment offers no danger of contamination--or full-out mind melding. Her only way to escape from prison is to prove them wrong.

I do not read many short stories because I am greedy for a good story to last as long as possible. Having said that, let me say that I was more than a little bit unsure on how to review this short story. I have read Anthologies and such and was able to base most of my review on the whole of the work but Mind Melding is only 4000 words. Would I be able to write a review to do it justice?

The answer is yes. Yes, Mind Melding is a short read but it is clever. Clever and interesting. It immerses you into a surreal world and culture where rehabilitation for criminals has become an invasive look into the lives of people who do not commit crimes. Mind Melding also raises issues concerning any agency having the right to use people unknowingly in order to deal with a criminal mind. I also found the arrogance of the programs researchers to be amusing. Engineers once said the Titanic was unsinkable and look how well that turned out.

I am looking forward to more from Melissa M. Kent. 4000 words is not a huge amount of content to develop a compelling story that readers will remember but Ms. Kent does it easily. I can't wait to read a full novel from her, i'm thinking it will be brilliant.

The action in this book is a lot of fun. Steez is the first book I've read from author Raymond Embrack and I am planning on checking out more!Here isThe action in this book is a lot of fun. Steez is the first book I've read from author Raymond Embrack and I am planning on checking out more!Here is the book summary:Gemma Steez is the first female quarterback in pro football. Some call her the Kim Kardashian of sports. Some see a target. A walking nightmare called Red Candy has a plan to take Steez for millions then “bathe in her blood.” With her is an ex-mercenary and a psycho for hire. Add paparazzi TV, a cult of celebrity stalkers, a Mexican cartel out for payback, and a bad girl past that’s come back for her head. But Steez is no soft target. Steez is where style meets badass.

The character of Steez is interesting and dynamic although you don't really get a look at how she goes from a young and troubled girl to a celebrity football player. I still liked her.The villains were the real stand outs in this story, Red Candy is a truly evil character and her ex-hitman boyfriend is a freak. Their relationship adds a lot to the stories' intensity. They hire a psycho to stalk Steez and pretty much terrorize her in the most brutal of ways but he doesn't live up to the level of messed-up that Red candy does so well. As for the rest of the secondary characters, I didn't get much of a feel for them. They felt like background noise.

What kept this from a 4 star rating was the confusing rhythm of the dialog between Steez and her assistant and boyfriend in the beginning. That and some descriptions of L.A. used when describing Steez's lifestyle were somewhat futuristic sounding and at first I started thinking this was set in the near future but this cleared up for me eventually.

All-in-all, I truly liked this story. It became a fast action romp and I couldn't put it down. I have a feeling Mr.Embrack's other books will appeal as well and I look forward to the next one....more

I really enjoyed this story. It opens with a high profile court case focusing on Joe Scarpia, a member of the mob. Agreeing to testify against him isI really enjoyed this story. It opens with a high profile court case focusing on Joe Scarpia, a member of the mob. Agreeing to testify against him is the star of the hugely followed case, Tina Davis. Beautiful and mysterious this woman is associated with some of the biggest names in the mob and she captures the attention of the nation. Jake Stern, who is the assistant DA and lead prosecutor cannot keep his eyes off her but considers her role as a mob moll to be beneath him.After a glimpse of the future by way of the opening court scene, Lisa Smith takes us back through the lives of Tina and Jake starting at childhood. Their stories reveal complex characters that have been crafted by the author in believable fashion. What makes Jake Stern choose a career in the DA's office as opposed to being a high profile attorney? Why would a young, innocent and charming 15yr old girl agree to become mistress to a much older mob boss?

Here is the book summary:The trial had everything an ambitious prosecuting attorney could want: a solid case against a known crimelord and a seductively beautiful witness with a steamy past - ingredients guaranteed to pack a courtroom." From its first line, Dangerous Lies entices. Alternately raw, romantic, funny, and terrifying, this racy new thriller has two unforgettable protagonists. Tina Davis is the former mob mistress who inexplicably risks her life. Jake Stern, is the prosecuting attorney who hides a crippling fear behind a handsome stoic mask. Repelled by her past and obsessed with her presence, it's Jake's job to keep Tina alive.

This was such a fun and interesting story. I loved the several relationships that are depicted in Dangerous Lies. The secondary characters are just as entertaining as the main ones. It is a pleasing mix of Drama, Romance, Intrigue and suspense. I highly recommend this to all!

Book Summary:A gel-like substance is suddenly discovered across the country. Ted Stevens, a Director in the Department of Homeland Security,3.5 Stars

Book Summary:A gel-like substance is suddenly discovered across the country. Ted Stevens, a Director in the Department of Homeland Security, is assigned to investigate. He enlists the help of scientists at a government laboratory to analyze the ‘goo’. They discover the substance was sent to Earth and has unique properties; it can clone animals. Ted soon learns the substance can also clone humans.

Sue is the first of eleven new people cloned from the alien substance. She and the others are contained by Ted on an abandoned military base. While there, the clones receive a message. Sue decides she must deliver it, and one morning they find she’s gone.

During the recovery of Sue, Ted learns of the clones’ message and begins to understand their true intentions. He needs to know more about the clones, so he collects samples for DNA fingerprint testing. The fate of the new people will be decided by the results from Ted’s friends at the laboratory.

This type of story is my favorite type of Science Fiction. An event that produces extraordinary results which could prove disasterous. A team of scientists experimenting, speculating and debating the purpose of the event and the government trying to conceal and control it. In the case of Sue's Fingerprint, the presence of the clones poses the obvious risk of panic. The unknown is an automatic enemy and the people closest to these clones are rightfully wary however, with time, they cannot see anything other than human behavior and emotion from them.

The story becomes a type of analogy to human rights. Rights of the innocent. In the case of the clones, are they genetically different from their original counterpart? If not, then do we have the right to lock them up and treat them as the enemy?

I have to give the concept of this story a 4+ star rating. The 3.5 star final rating is due to the lack of complexity in some of the characters. I also found the telling of the story to be a bit simplistic as well.

Having said that, I have worked with several people in the scientific community. Oftentimes these men and women tend to dumb things down a bit for us regular folk. Andrew D. Carlson has an extensive background in science and there is a possibility that that is the case.

In conclusion I like where Mr. Carlson is going. This is his debut novel, there was meat in the story. I am going to be watching him because I have a feeling he is going to be one of my favorites. I recommend this to all fictions lovers, science and other!...more

I want to talk about how I felt when I started this last night.I watched inWhoa....I love Speculative Fiction....I love Horror....I LOVED this book!

I want to talk about how I felt when I started this last night.I watched in empathy as nine year old Maggie hid in terror of a storm. Her small frame under the sink trying to protect herself. Her alcoholic mother, jeering and deriding her for her weakness. Her grandmother having a zen moment on the porch as Maggie cries.Maggie is telling me about her life, not complaining of her circumstances but showing me the wonder in a child's imagination.Maggie tells me how her grandmother loves her. She makes sure Maggie eats and is clothed and is protected. Maggie talks to me about the trailer park she lives in and the desolate desert which surrounds it giving Maggie ideas of adventure and mystery and discovery.Through Maggie, we witness her grandmother teach Maggie about the voices in the storm. The way God uses these storms to clean up the messes that people make. Messes like the ones Maggie's mother makes with the bad men she brings home. Maggie knows, from her grandmother, that everything she suffers is another brick added to her castle in Heaven. If she makes sure she cleans her own messes then her castle will be large and wondrous, a castle where only good girls go....

I was enchanted by Maggie and the way she accepted her life with such grace. The writing in this story is so clean and fresh. I was completely focused on Maggie and her life.

Then.... Benjamin X. Wretlind lifted his big-booted foot back and kicked my ass into my skull. Right in to my skull.

Here is the book summary:When Maggie was six, she hid from desert storms under the sink where the Comet and Windex were kept. Now twenty, she welcomes the storms. Maggie has been abused, torn apart by the sins of others and constantly feels as if she is living on the verge of some grand epiphany. Then again, she may just be insane. Maggie doesn't know if the four bodies she dismembered and placed inside a rusted Volkswagen Bus are the only bricks left to her castle in the sky, but she hopes you'll understand if they're not. Castles is Maggie's story, a literary horror novel about love and redemption, belief and revenge and what brings a person to madness. Set in a nameless desert in a nameless town, it is the view into the life of a young woman who wonders if madness is really mad.

Do not assume anything when you read this book and if you have any love in you for speculative-horror fiction; you must read this. Mr. Wretlind is asking us a question; What is madness? After reading this I have come up with more than a few answers and a whole lot of questions. None of which I will share with you my friends. I promise after reading Castles you will have your own.

Benjamin X. Wretlind is a serious talent and a force to be reckoned with. I look forward to getting the boot while reading further work from him. Grab a copy of this story and watch your ass!...more

Heather Cashman has created a series that will satisfy the Fantasy and Dystopian lover in you! It did in me without doubt.

Here is the book summary: YHeather Cashman has created a series that will satisfy the Fantasy and Dystopian lover in you! It did in me without doubt.

Here is the book summary: Your perception will sharpen once you see through a tiger's eyes.More than five hundred years after the apocalypse, the survivors of off-grid genetic experimentation have refined their mixed DNA to the point that humans and their animal counterparts share physical and mental links. Varying species have divided into districts, living in a tenuous peace under the President of Calem.Ardana and her tiger ingenium Rijan leave their life of exile and abuse in the Outskirts, setting out with their twin brothers to redeem themselves and become citizens of the Center. But shedding their past isn't as easy as they had hoped. When the system that shunned them becomes embroiled in political conflict and treachery, their unique abilities and experiences from the Outskirts make them invaluable to every faction. The runaways become pawns to friends as well as enemies, and with every step it becomes more difficult to tell which is which.

This book is smarter than your average YA and at first is a bit confusing. There is a lot of information to process at first but Heather Cashman rewards us for the effort. Soon into the story you begin to grasp this new world she has created, lush scenery and complex personalities that capture your mind as well as the over-all political climate that has developed in the five-hundred years since the genetic manipulation of their ancestors.The empathic link a brother and sister share with their tiger counterparts is a joy to experience. The journey these four have to make in order to secure a better future for themselves is made richer for it. Experiencing the environment through the eyes of human and tiger, brother and sister was a great addition to the story. In the person of Ardana, you learn of her struggle to avoid commitment of any kind outside of her tiger and brother. The abuse and neglect she suffered growing up in the outskirts have caused her to devote herself in the search for true freedom and any type of commitment to another would destroy that dream. Her brother Kade is all too aware of Ardana's struggle but has an issue all his own. Ardana believes Kade is destined to become a great leader in Calem but Kade does not believe he can be great.I think the underlying message of Perception is perception, (lol). How do we see ourselves? How do others see us? Which is real?

I think most readers will enjoy this book and I highly recommend it to lovers of Fantasy!...more

Book Summary:The Caldarian Conflict is a novel about a monk caught between a corrupt government and enraged pirates. Brother Mendell, follower of a goBook Summary:The Caldarian Conflict is a novel about a monk caught between a corrupt government and enraged pirates. Brother Mendell, follower of a god named Lord Justice, consoles a pirate prisoner slated for execution. As he listens to the pirate's story, Mendell begins to wonder whether the execution is just.

This question drives Mendell to uncover the mystery surrounding the military's methods of capturing pirates. However, Admiral Cain and his ruthless assistant Krell have more in mind than simply ridding the seas of piracy. With a mysterious backer funding their mission, they will stop at nothing short of total control. Will Mendell figure out the mystery in time?

What a FANTASTIC read!

Monk Mendell is asked by Father Ramsey to counsel a prisoner waiting to be hanged. The prisoner, an ex-pirate who uses information he has gained to lead active pirates to vulnerable targets, has not spoken to any of the clergy sent before Mendell. It is a common belief in this society that everyone should be given a chance to repent and/or reconcile their lives before death and as a monk whose chosen god out of several dieties is Lord Justice, he is not happy with this new directive. Afterall, justice has been done and the punishment for all pirates is death. Although not indifferent to the prisoner, Mendell does not encourage him to repent but listens to him instead. Giving the prisoner a choice of what he wants to speak about in his last hours causes the pirate to open up.What Mendell witnesses and hears causes him to question whether the pirate deserves death as his sentence and whether the military is using unethical practices in order to solve the crime problem.What follows is a mixture of adventure, fantasy and mystery.I loved the mash-up of genres in this story. Elements of a good old fashioned crime mystery mixed with an epic fantasy environment and a touch of magic. The person of Monk Mendell became one of my favorite characters of all time. An honest and strong man, compassionate and just with a likable personality that caused me to hang on his every word.Becoming caught up in a doomed mission while trying to understand the facts, he still offers hope and healing to those around them. Giving all involved the benefit of the doubt while seeking guidance from Father Ramsey and the gods.

This is a story about a gentle hero and his quest to bring justice where justice is due as well as mercy to those who need it. While discovering himself and his mission, he realizes that all is not what it seems and the lines between good and evil are blurred.I recommend this book to all lovers of fiction. I truly hope I will get to follow Monk Mendell on the rest of his journey....more

Imagine surviving a brutal attack. One where the obvious conclusion is murder but somehow you get away. Now imagine you are only 15yrs old, terrifiedImagine surviving a brutal attack. One where the obvious conclusion is murder but somehow you get away. Now imagine you are only 15yrs old, terrified to get help from the police and unable to confide in your mother.Fifteen years in to the future is where you will begin this story. Mary Elizabeth has a family now. A husband and beautiful son but there is something missing in her soul. Her heart doesn't seem complete and those closest to her have begun to distance themselves. Her husband Charlie knows something has been wrong with Mary Elizabeth for some time but is unable to get her to talk with him, so he avoids the problem. Her young son is obviously much more closer to Charlie. I found the beginning of this thriller to be very dark and oppressive. I identified with Charlie but found I truly disliked Mary Elizabeth. This was at once awkward and authentic to me.There is an unwritten rule most of us subscribe to when we read a thriller or suspense story like Wired. We will ALWAYS identify and like the main character. Most especially if she is a victim. The problem with this is it isn't always reasonable.Given the circumstances of Wired and the role Mary Elizabeth has been given by Martha Randolph Carr, there is no way you will believe a strong, loving, sympathetic character.I promise you this, you will understand her and you will eventually empathize with her.

Here is the book summary:Will the truth set you free or get you killed?Mary Elizabeth and Charlie’s marriage is fading away as Charlie tries to just get along and Mary Elizabeth struggles not to disappear completely. A murdered teenager is discovered at the local teenage hangout on a bluff high above main street bringing back memories to Mary Elizabeth that she would rather forget but may hold the key to saving an entire town. But when the bodies keep popping up everyone must struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and redemption.

Martha Randolph Carr does and exceptional job in the creation of Mary. The building of tension is felt by all characters and I felt it as well. As most people who have read my reviews know, I put great stock in characters. I just have to believe them in most cases. There is always the exception but if you feel as I do, pick up this fantastic read!...more

Mermaids! How cool is that? In a group of genres, (PNR,YA,Fantasy YA),normally inundated with Vamps, Werewolves, Demons, and Witches a Mermaid story wMermaids! How cool is that? In a group of genres, (PNR,YA,Fantasy YA),normally inundated with Vamps, Werewolves, Demons, and Witches a Mermaid story was refreshing!

Here is the book Summary: Something extraordinary is lurking in the deep ocean waters off the coast of Aptos, California. Just a few weeks after moving to the beach town, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive her increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might just be able to unlock the mystery of her past and learn how to appease the mysterious forces that seem to want something from her... and maybe even find true love along the way.Derrolyn Anderson knows exactly what young women want to read. Between the Land and Sea has a down to earth protagonist in Marina. Lovable secondary characters. A cute surfer, rich 'aunt', designer clothes and an exciting mystery.

I had fun losing myself in this story and remembering what my teenage years were like. Derrolyn's character's were very likable and her story well thought out.

I HIGHLY recommend this to lovers of YA but I also encourage older women like me to pick this up for a pick-me up!...more

Parker Francis is a smooth operator, so is his new fictional P.I., Quint Mitchell!Now when I say smooth, I'm not referring to the nature of a 'LadiesParker Francis is a smooth operator, so is his new fictional P.I., Quint Mitchell!Now when I say smooth, I'm not referring to the nature of a 'Ladies Man' although Quint Mitchell is one hot detective and I know Parker Francis AKA Victor DiGenti is pretty smokin' himself. The writing style Parker Francis uses is smooth. He and his character Quint Mitchell guided me into a clever mystery and before I knew it, I was immersed in the story and environment. I could not put this down.

Here is the book summary:When PI Quint Mitchell volunteered to help with an archaeological survey in St. Augustine, he didn’t count on digging up a murder victim. In the nation’s oldest city, Mitchell discovers links to ancient sins, comes face to face with his own past, and unleashes powerful forces that will do anything to keep their secrets—even if it means taking his life. In this award-winning debut mystery, author Parker Francis taps into an undercurrent of violence hidden behind the sleepy façade of the historic town. When Mitchell’s friend, the City Archaeologist, is charged with a brutal murder, he must find the true killer while fighting inner demons and the corrosive residue of racial violence dating back to the Civil Rights Movement. As he learns, St. Augustine was birthed in blood—Matanzas means “place of slaughter” in Spanish—and violence is never far from the surface.

Quint Mitchell is a complex character without trying too hard. Mr.Francis crafts his past and likable personality as smoothly as he crafted this book. I truly liked Quint and easily empathized with him as he struggles with his tragic past and faces danger as he tries to clear his friend of murder. The supporting characters were interesting and believable. The environment is rich as Francis describes the historical city of St. Augustine. All this contributed to a pleasurable read and I cannot recommend this story loudly enough to mystery lovers. I look forward to the next Quint Mitchell Mystery and, (hopefully), the many that follow!...more

Book Summary: The Other Room is a collection of weird horror fiction, containing twelve stories of the uncanny and the surreal.

A naive student findsBook Summary: The Other Room is a collection of weird horror fiction, containing twelve stories of the uncanny and the surreal.

A naive student finds that his crumbling bedsit can be as haunted as any Gothic mansion.

A man stumbles across another world which is the mirror image of his own.

A young woman who everyone thinks is beautiful wonders why, given what she sees in the mirror each morning.

Influenced by writers such as Ramsey Campbell, Shirley Jackson, and Robert Aickman these tales, like all good horror stories, are as much about the psychology of the protagonist as the fate that awaits them.

The Other Room contains both new and previously published stories that will challenge your conceptions of horror and literary fiction.

The Other Room is brain candy. Each story challenges you as you try to guess what is really going on. The first story, which shares the title of this collection, was reminiscent of The Twilight Zone complete with the feeling that things aren't right in a very bad way. I found myself trying to trump the author and predict the ending. Didn't work. I read on to the second story, it had a different feel altogether. A sense of impending doom with no obvious reason why. I found that with each story, James Everington created an atmosphere of expectancy and uncertainty. More importantly, James Everington involves the reader by insisting they draw their own conclusions at the story's end. I spent time digesting the story, pondering the implications of what the characters experienced. To me, this made The Other Room brilliant. There is nothing I like more than for the story to continue on it's own after the last word is written.Although this collection of short stories is described as Horror Fiction, I think Speculative Fiction is a perfect fit as well.My new goal in life is to read a full length novel written by Mr. Everington. I know the experience will be with me for a long time....more

I am a relative newcomer to YA. When I was considered a young adult I had already been reading heavily since age 9 and had jumped into hard3.5 Stars!

I am a relative newcomer to YA. When I was considered a young adult I had already been reading heavily since age 9 and had jumped into hard Sci Fi and Bodice Rippers. There just wasn't many books marketed for girls my age. As I began to read Alexis Donkin's YA story, I decided I was going to come at it from who I was at 16 and I had so much fun reading The Brother's!

Here is the book summary: Khloe Alwell is about to turn sixteen, find her first real friends, fall in love, learn every legend is true, discover her parents are living a lie, and one more thing. She's not human.

Moving from town to town with her mother who is absent six months out of the year and an mousy academic stepfather, Khloe Alwell never had time to make friends or fit in. Everything changes the September before her sixteenth birthday, when Khloe finds herself in a small New England town starting yet another new school. There she befriends three strange brothers who introduce her to a world where human myth and legend are fictionalized histories of an older more powerful race divided. Drawn to Khloe, the brothers and their childhood friends will help her uncover her parents' complicated past, come to terms with ugly truths that plague all people, as well as discover Khloe's true identity, abilities, and her importance in the world under the veil.

Dive into the first installment of Khloe's adventures in a hidden world where things are more than what they appear, and people are the same, no matter who they are.

Khloe is mature for a 15 year old. She has to be givin the lifestyle of her parents. She is smart and light hearted and attuned to nature. She is also very believable.When Khloe is warmly welcomed to her new school and new town by the Grech brothers, she is both scared and excited. Moving around so much all of her life has taught her that fostering friendships can be painful. However, the Grechs won't let her stay a loner.It's wonderful to watch Khloe blossom under the attention of the whole Grech family. Her once very small world is expanded and becomes fantasy-like.This was a pleasure to read. The lore of Seelie and Unseelie was interesting.

Jeremy Rodden has a gift! He sees eye-to-eye with young people. He doesn't talk down to them, he doesn't overwhelm them and yet despiteSo. Much. Fun.

Jeremy Rodden has a gift! He sees eye-to-eye with young people. He doesn't talk down to them, he doesn't overwhelm them and yet despite the high entertainment factor, there is valuable life lessons in his story.

Here is the book summary: Toonopolis is a cartoon city that is home to the thoughts and ideas of all sentient beings in the universe. As the center of the Tooniverse, it acts as an other-worldly rest stop for these creations.Gemini is a teenage human boy who is thrust into Toonopolis through his father's scientific research program. He loses part of himself in the process and immediately begins a quest to regain his lost memories with the help of his Tooniverse guide named Jimbob the Talking Eggplant.

After an altercation with a mysterious Shadowy Figure, Gemini's mission is changed, and he begins a new quest to defeat Shadowy Figure and protect Toonopolis from his nefarious destruction. Along the way, he meets new friends, discovers just how diverse and strange Toonopolis is, and learns lessons about compassion, forgiveness, redemption, and being true to oneself.

Think of all the fantasies you had as a kid. Did you have an imaginary friend? A monster under the bed? Did you dream up funny characters to entertain yourself? Well, I know where they are. Toonopolis, of course.

What an awesome and colorful world! What a lovable bunch of characters! Throw in the great adventure and subtle humor even an adult can laugh at and you have all of the necessary makings for an adult and child to enjoy together. As a bonus, Jeremy Rodden adds down to earth wisdom everyone can use!

This isn't written in a way as to alienate an adult who reads to their children at bedtime. Mr. Rodden cleverly used a writing style that all ages can relate to. I loved it and I recommend it to everyone!...more

This story is very intriguing but the author constantly points out how his strong female characters are hot. Every time one enters a room every man prThis story is very intriguing but the author constantly points out how his strong female characters are hot. Every time one enters a room every man present thinks "...oh, it's a woman, a very pretty woman, she must be smart or she wouldn't be here..." or something similar.Now I am not a Femi-Nazi in the slightest. I enjoy 'Men's' fiction and love Cussler and Clancy however, this type of reaction continued throughout the story even though these women were around in previous novels. I could not take it seriously. I truly tried to ignore it but we are talking about women in the military and FBI. Women who have already done kick-ass things. Why are the men in the story surprised they are women...and pretty? I mean no disrespect to Mr.Boyland. If there is one thing I have learned in working with men for the last 20 some years is that we are different but in this year of 2011, women, pretty or not, do not surprise men in military or law enforcement fields anymore....more

OK, I probably need to explain the 3.75 star rating. It's an odd number, true, but although I thoroughly enjoyed this story there was somet3.75 Stars!

OK, I probably need to explain the 3.75 star rating. It's an odd number, true, but although I thoroughly enjoyed this story there was something nagging at me while I read it. I finally figured out as I finished and my problem was I wanted a little more. A little more background into the hierarchy of gods, a little more depth into the characters and a little more World-building. Having said that, this novel did not disappoint me at all. I felt the premise was unique, the battles and type of magic used are very entertaining and I wanted more. Epic Fantasy of any kind should leave the reader wanting more, that is what defines them as Epic.

Here is the book summary: And so begins, TEARS OF RAGE a dark, epic fantasy about the power of faith and belief, where even though the gods can inspire these qualities in mortals, it is those same mortals that truly control the religions that form from any god’s divine inspiration. It is also a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue where men scheme against each other and the gods, and how friendship, loyalty, and faith can help people persevere through the darkest times.

M. Todd Gallowglas has an epically great story at his fingertips. I will read the second installment of First Chosen and I promise that most of you will love this fresh Fantasy. Those of us that read a lot of Epic Fantasy may want more as I described previous, but will still enjoy this novel as I did. ...more

Not only has Philip Tucker created an atmosphere of fear in this novel, he also highlights the weakness of human self interest and the damage it can dNot only has Philip Tucker created an atmosphere of fear in this novel, he also highlights the weakness of human self interest and the damage it can do to the people around you.

Here is the book summary: Down in the depths below Buffalo's abandoned State Insane Asylum the shadows writhe and wait, hungry for a new cycle of revenge and despair.

Into their web of madness disappears Henry, forcing his older brother to begin a search that will lead Thomas into the darkest corners of his soul.

For the dangers that lurk in the interstices of Buffalo's haunted heart care not for flesh but for the substance of the spirit, the resilience of the mind and the strength of one's will to survive.

And Thomas, fleeing as he is his own troubled life, soon finds his very sense of self under attack.

Accompanied by Julia, his younger brother's tormented ex-girlfriend, Thomas forces himself to walk the same downward spiral that claimed Henry.

But the hunger that Henry awoke has broken stronger men than Thomas, shattered their minds and consumed them whole in the darkness. What hope does Thomas have in the face of such ravening despair?

CRUDE SUNLIGHT is a tale of modern psychological horror that will appeal to fans of SILENT HILL, THE RING and Shirley Jackson. Complete at 85,000 words (about 350 pages), CRUDE SUNLIGHT will haunt you long after the final page has been turned.

Crude Sunlight appears, at first, a story of a haunted insane asylum and I expected people to get killed off one by one until the hero finds his brother and they ride off into the proverbial sunset. By the way, that would have been fine with me because I love scary, gory horror but Philip Tucker went deeper. The building with the creepy sounds and sights is NOT the focus of the story. Thomas is. His lack of prior involvement in his younger brothers life causes him to wait months before making an effort to find Henry. Assuming Henry is off partying it up or what have you, Thomas is in for a surprise when he stumbles onto the knowledge of what Henry was doing in the days preceding his disappearance. Julia, Henry's ex-girlfriend seems indifferent to Thomas and his belated quest to find his brother but Mr. Tucker gives us a glimpse of Julia's soul which suggests differently. It is also disturbing. The antipathy in Thomas's life has put his marriage in jeopardy and the search for Henry starts out as an excuse to get outta town and avoid his own problems.He ropes his best friend into helping him, when he knows things could tun out bad, but is not overly worried at involving him. When things do get wildly out of hand, Thomas has to re-think his true purpose and decide exactly how much he cares for friends and family and what he is willing to do for them.

Do not mistake the character work I am describing as a complete picture of Crude Sunlight. It is a real and clever part of the story Philip Tucker has crafted but beware, this story is gonna scare the crap out of you. Philip Tucker doesn't create monsters you can kill or control or reason with. The evil that Thomas has to face will make the hair on your arms stand up.This story has all the makings of a great Horror read with a dash of Speculative Fiction and human psychology thrown in to make things a little more real. I loved it and I am positive fans of this genre will too!...more

Book Summary: My name is Elena and I used to be a human being. Now I am a sex slave.If you are reading this diary then I am either dead or I3.5 Stars!

Book Summary: My name is Elena and I used to be a human being. Now I am a sex slave.If you are reading this diary then I am either dead or I have managed to escape…

****

Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave is a gritty, gripping, and tear-jerking novella, inspired by real victims’ accounts and research into the sex trafficking underworld.

It is estimated that 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year – 80% of these are women and girls. (Source: U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007)

This is a heart wrenching story of a young girl named Elena who is kidnapped by sex slavers. It is brutal and horrifying. Elena tells her story through a diary she hides from her captors. Her hopelessness, fear and agony are very real. Although the story is very short, it packs a punch. As stated in the book summary, sex trafficking is a very real crime, a hideous business that profits from the destruction of young men and women all over the world. Sibel Hodge has done a very good job giving us facts in a story setting without sensationalism.

Like many of the injustices committed all over the world, the practice of sex trafficking is usually hidden in the underworld of crime but needs more light shed on it before it can be stopped....more

I have to start by saying that the book summary does not do this original story justice! When I started My Novel Affair I expected a regular Chick Lit style read. Well, it is great Chick Lit but so much fun and so very clever.

OK, try and stay with me here. Sinara Ellis is the author of The Detective Lattimer Series which contains six installments thus far. Sinara Ellis is also the main character in My Novel Affair. Sinara is tired of Detective Casey Lattimer who is the main character in her popular Detective Lattimer Series. Casey gets all the attention. She is tough, sexy, gritty and sexually free. She has all the fun and pays no emotional price for it. Sinara, however, never sees her golf playing, insensitive, no sexual talent husband who also happens to be her editor. His only apparent interest in Sinara is whether she is meeting her deadline on the next Lattimer installment. How else can he golf at all the exclusive courses?

Dreadfully fed up with her Lattimer Series, Sinara considers killing her off but knows that her agent and her husband will cause trouble.

On a book tour, Sinara finds a Bodice-Ripper Romance and decides that is what she really wants. To write a funny, passionate romance. Enter Alexis Perry. The main Character of Sinara's next book...and also a main character in this one as well.

What follows is a rip roaring adventure of two, (or is it three?), women looking to find romance and a slice of life to make them excited again. To refresh their careers and renew themselves. I was enchanted and entertained. This story switches seamlessly between Sinara and Alexis. I could not wait to see how it would end and I have become a huge fan of Sinara Ellis in the process. Both of them!...more

I have read many Fantasy stories. Epics really, like ones written by George R. R. Martin, Terry Goodkind and N.K. Jemisin. I love Fantasy and always wI have read many Fantasy stories. Epics really, like ones written by George R. R. Martin, Terry Goodkind and N.K. Jemisin. I love Fantasy and always will but sometimes the long story lines can become complex and heavy. Politics, revenge, long chapters based on secondary characters and subtle back stories can distract from the main idea of the story. Good versus evil.In Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch, Angel Haze has given her audience a chance to focus on good versus evil and the heroes that are born from the fight.

Here is the book Summary: Debonair, a witch from the Unspoken Lands, has meddled in the forbidden practice of magic and created an army of nightmarish proportions. When sixteen-year-old Astanyx and his two best friends return from a hunting trip to find their small town of Polca reduced to smoke and ash, they find themselves thrust into a battle for which they haven't been trained.

With the help of his comrades, including an esteemed warrior, one of the last great wizards and a princess they've sworn to protect, Astanyx must fight to unite the kingdoms of the humans, dwarves and elves. He must ask forbidden questions that no one wants to answer, questions about Talimura's dark history. As Debonair's brutal warriors lay siege to the kingdoms, Astanyx is driven to pursue a fateful quest for a blade powerful enough to defeat the malevolent witch before she destroys the three kingdoms and unleashes an unspeakable ancient evil.

There are many reasons I enjoyed this book so much. The characters were fantastic from the endearing Astanyx to the evil Debonair. Every character was well thought out with entertaining personalities and motives of their own. The World-building aspects were very good and surprising for a new author. The plot was not so cumbersome as to overwhelm the reader. I truly enjoyed losing myself in the story. Orcs, Dragons, Elves, Dwarves, Birdmen and more, this story has so much Win!

Writing Fantasy is not for the faint of heart. As a first time Fantasy writer, Angel Haze is a strong new voice and a refreshing addition to the genre!...more

Book Summary: In the vine-twisted swamps of Louisiana, the shadows have teeth.

Jack Winter has spent his entire life running from something no one elseBook Summary: In the vine-twisted swamps of Louisiana, the shadows have teeth.

Jack Winter has spent his entire life running from something no one else can see. His childhood is his darkest secret, but after a near fatal accident along a deserted road, the darkness he was sure he’d escaped rears its ugly head… and smiles.

But this time, he isn’t the only one who sees the soulless eyes of his past. This time, his six-year-old daughter Charlie leans into his ear and whispers: Daddy, I saw it too.

And then she begins to change.

Faced with reliving the nightmares of his childhood, Jack watches his daughter spiral into the shadows that had nearly consumed him twenty years before.

But Charlie isn’t the only one who’s changing.

Jack never outran the darkness. It’s been with him all along.

And it’s hungrier than ever.

A new breed of dark fiction: the subtlety of Seed will haunt you, and the end will wickedly satisfy.

This is the type of story that sends electric shocks of foreboding into the hearts of parents. The kind of story that creates a sense of impending doom in all readers. There is a type of evil that seems more powerful than monsters or serial killers. It's the evil that many try to explain through religion or magic. This evil is called Demon, Alien, or a product of dark magic, it has been deemed unknown or a psychologically caused phenomena. Whatever your background is, whatever your beliefs, the evil Ania Ahlborn unleashes in Seed is insidious.

As an adult, Jack has your average family life. Free from the nightmare of his youth he has two daughters, a wife and a home. Although the family struggles financially, they seem to be close. At first. Charlie, his six year old, is his unspoken favorite because they are so similar. A happy, funny, witty banter exists between them. Until Charlie sees the thing that haunted Jacks past.At first becoming strangely ill, Charlie begins to act differently causing her sister to avoid her. Jack fears he knows the answer to her sudden change but seems to not know how to help her.Charlies mother begins to fear for her daughters mental health as weird and frightening things occur in the house.As the reader, you find yourself urging Jack to do something. Urging him to confide his secret past with his wife. You want him to protect his family, to save Charlie, but his reasons for not revealing what he knows is happening are his own and you are left helpless as you watch the impending destruction of this family.In the same vein of The Other and even The Omen, Seed evokes our darkest fears. You can't put it down no matter how frightened you get. I have officially put Ania Ahlhorn on my list of Best New Authors. I recommend this read to anyone who loves horror and suspense!...more

FBI Special Agent Jack Miller, pulled into a high-profile case to mentor a new agent, finds himself in a clash with the toughest opponent of his career. The chase culminates in the bowels of the city, in the storm sewers and tunnels beneath The Ninth District Federal Reserve of Minneapolis.

Dorow's characters are well crafted. They are easy to believe, realistic and sympathetic. FBI Agent Jack Miller is a seasoned agent paired with Ross Fruen, a young agent looking to learn the ropes. Their first case together is a tough one. One man, nicknamed The Governor, has robbed several banks. He doesn't take much money and doesn't usually kill but the last robbery he inexplicably kills a pregnant young woman. The Governor has a plan and his plan is much bigger than simple bank robberies. Miller and Fruen know that their time is short to find him and when The Governor starts targeting them, time runs out.

Douglas Dorow gives us a fascinating crime to figure out and immerses us in the scenery as well. I was able to lose myself in the process of tracking a criminal and become acquainted with the personal life of Agent Jack Miller. His struggles with family and job were very real. Dorow doesn't create a superhero but a man with a family and a love for his job.Some of the things I found endearing about Jack was his humility and his propensity to give everyone nicknames.

Fans of Crime Drama will be happy to welcome Douglas Dorow into the fold!...more